Understanding how genes cause biological differences can lead to improved treatments for substance use disorder. And people who share certain high-risk gene variations may or may not have the trait. About half of your susceptibility to developing a substance use disorder (SUD) can be hereditary.

The Role of the Family in Addiction

The genetic connection to addiction comes through inherited levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter made in your brain. White Oak Recovery Center’s beautiful private residential treatment centers in Northridge, California, offer personalized treatment plans with safe, expertly managed medical detox. Our family therapy program helps residents learn new coping and communication skills while strengthening healthy bonds and relationships between family members. It is human nature to want to fit in and be accepted; when a peer group engages in substance abuse, many people will join in to avoid becoming outcasts.

The research supported by DNB provides important fundamental information to prevent and/or intervene in https://ecosober.com/blog/is-addiction-genetic-hereditary-addiction-factors/ drug use and addiction. Scientists will be able to translate this knowledge into new treatments directed at specific targets in the brain or to treatment approaches—called pharmacogenomics. This emerging science promises to harness the power of genomic information to improve treatments for addiction by tailoring the treatment to the person’s specific genetic makeup. By knowing a person’s genomic information, health care providers will be better equipped to match patients with the most suitable treatments and medication dosages, and to avoid or minimize adverse reactions. In individuals who are vulnerable to addiction, repetitive exposure to the agent induces long-lasting neuroadaptative changes that further promote drug-seeking behaviors and ultimately lead to persistent and uncontrolled patterns of use that constitute addiction.

How Does Family History Influence Addiction Susceptibility?

This new finding is the strongest evidence to date that cannabis use disorder and even cannabis use significantly increases the risk for other substance use disorders. For example, a study of more than 3 million people suggests that marriage may protect against AUD, particularly for those with genetic loading for AUD. However, researchers also noted that while marriage to a spouse without alcohol problems may protect against alcohol use disorders, being married to a spouse with alcohol use problems has the opposite effect, increasing one’s risk. When addiction is called “genetic,” it doesn’t mean there’s a single gene responsible or that addiction is inevitable. Rather, it means certain people may inherit a higher susceptibility to developing a substance use disorder.

Nature vs. Nurture: How Environment Also Plays a Role

Candidate gene and genome-wide analyses are increasingly integrated to identify genetic variations influencing addiction. In the former, genes known to influence the pathogenesis or treatment of addictions are selected, for example, based on discoveries in animal pharmacobehavioral and genetic studies or based on what is known about the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug. Genetic predispositions to addiction are rooted in variations within genes that control critical neurobiological pathways involved in reward, motivation, and impulse regulation.

Can addiction be solely attributed to genetics?

The shift towards alcoholism precision medicine in addiction allows for personalized interventions that address each patient’s unique biological mechanisms, improving overall treatment outcomes. Substance use disorders are heritable and influenced by complex gene-environment interactions. Epigenetic changes, which involve modifications in gene expression without altering the DNA sequence, sometimes are reversed. These changes are influenced by environmental factors such as diet, stress, and exposure to drugs.

By changing these environmental factors, it is possible to reverse some epigenetic modifications. Family studies have consistently shown that addiction runs in families, indicating a hereditary component. Twin studies, in particular, have been instrumental in demonstrating the heritability of addiction. For example, research by Kendler et al.1997, “Twin Studies of Alcoholism,”  published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that the heritability of alcoholism is approximately 50-60%.

• Genetics play a significant role in addiction; however, they do not determine a person’s fate or worth.
• Phenotypic heterogeneity is extensive in the manifestation of addiction, with users differing in magnitudes such as age of onset of problems, drug symptoms, abusing history, and comorbid disorders.
• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that genetic factors account for approximately 40%–60% of the risk of developing an addiction.
• The current landscape of addiction research underscores the critical influence of genetics in shaping individual vulnerability and recovery.
• Genetic predispositions can influence how vulnerable an individual is to environmental stressors such as childhood trauma, peer pressure, or exposure to drugs.

• As shown in Table 1, GWAS of SUDs have included relatively more diverse samples compared to other psychiatric disorders, but the numbers of non-European samples are still well below the European-ancestry sample sizes.
• However, as ZFPs and TALEs utilize protein-DNA interactions to mediate DNA-targeting, the synthesis and validation of these tools are time-consuming, expensive, and technically challenging, which has limited their application.
• This susceptibility can influence how a person responds to substances, including how strongly they crave them or how quickly they develop a dependence.
• Rare variation accounted for 1.0–2.2% of phenotypic variance across these traits (Brazel et al., 2019).

Stress response genes like MAOA and COMT also contribute to vulnerability by modulating how individuals respond to environmental stressors. Accumulating evidence suggests that environmental factors, such as stress, induce epigenetic changes that can trigger the development of psychiatric disorders and drug addiction. Epigenetic changes refer to regulations of gene expression that do not involve alterations in the sequence of the genetic material (DNA) itself. Practically, epigenetic changes are information that is added on to already existing genetic material, but can affect the expression of genes.

For example, someone with a genetic predisposition might never develop an addiction if they are surrounded by protective factors, such as supportive family and healthy social environments. Conversely, those with genetic vulnerabilities might be more likely to develop addiction if exposed to high-stress situations or easy access to drugs. Individuals with a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with a contributing gene have a two to four times greater http://www.a-vue-doeil.fr/2025/09/29/sober-living-for-drug-alcohol-addiction-recovery/ chance of developing a substance abuse problem.

• By understanding the genetic factors that contribute to addiction, healthcare providers develop targeted interventions and therapies.
• The terms genetics and heredity are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are differences that are important to understand.
• To better understand the roles of α4-containing nAChRs, a KI approach was adopted with the goal of making a hypersensitive nAChR that might generate more noticeable phenotypes.

The relationship between addiction and genetics is substantial because genetic factors influence an individual’s vulnerability to substance use disorders by affecting behavior, brain function, and responses to drugs. Et al., 2021 study, genetic factors account for about 50% of the risk for substance use disorders (SUDs). While genetics does not solely determine addiction, it plays a crucial role in shaping an individual’s vulnerability. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified key genetic loci, such as ADH1B and ALDH2 for alcohol metabolism and CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 for nicotine, that contribute to this risk.

Whether these new scales can capture different aspects underlying ND and reduce the phenotypic heterogeneity among smokers remains to be investigated, especially in non-Caucasian smokers. Edmund has an extensive background in SUD research and medical writing, working collaboratively with doctors, substance use disorder specialists, and clinical experts across all content on Recovered. This article will cover what you need to know about addiction and genes and what treatment options are available if you or a loved one are struggling. To address these ethical concerns, policies and guidelines must be developed to ensure the responsible and ethical use of genetic information in the context of addiction. This includes establishing privacy and data protection measures, implementing anti-discrimination laws, and providing appropriate genetic counseling and support services. Traumatic experiences, such as abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence, can increase the likelihood of developing SUDs as a coping mechanism.

Can a Person Be Born with an Alcohol Use Disorder?

Over time, they come into contact with different elements in their environment; these inputs enter into their separate decision making processes. They also mark their DNA “with information that can affect their behavior, their risk of addiction, and even their response to treatment.” The twins start alike (via genetics) but develop in their own way (via environment). Examples such of this trace how both heredity and other influences are at the root of addiction.